“Good!”- The Simple Secret to a Positive Life

Although it may not always seem that way, the fact is that every single event and experience in our life has both positive and negative aspects to it. There’s no such thing as something that’s entirely bad or entirely good.

Even so, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of believing that there are some experiences from which absolutely no good whatsoever can come.

Now granted, there are some things that are heavily weighted one way or the other. Where you would be far better off had it not happened. Like the death of someone close to you, for instance. Where can the positives possibly be in that?

Well, the fact is that as tragic as an event like that is, it still does have positives.

Think about it.

It would make you:

Stronger

Wiser

Appreciate those close to you more

Appreciate your own health and life more

Strive to make more of your life while you have the time

Now of course, I’m not saying that these pluses make up for the loss of someone close to you. Nothing can. I’m just saying, they are there.

Then there are those events that appear to be predominantly positive or negative at first, but then seem to reverse fortunes. We’ve all heard stories about people winning the lottery, for example, only to finally lose their fortunes. Or to have the windfall cause arguments and dissention within their family and tear it apart.

Now, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s everyone’s preference in life to be happy, not sad. To learn and grow, not to stagnate and decay. To get stronger and wiser, not weaker and more bitter.

But if that’s so, why isn’t it that everyone doesn’t go out of their way to look for the positives in every situation? Even the really bad ones?

The fact is, many people who do the exact opposite. I know some personally.

They seem to constantly dwell, and even obsess, on the negatives. People who are actually afraid of being happy or fortunate, for fear of “something bad happening”. When you make a habit of focusing so intently on negativity all of the time, you begin to see it everywhere. And you constantly expect more.

Pessimism, when you get used to it, is just as agreeable as optimism.

Arnold Bennett

No one can deny that bad things happen in life. They always have, and they always will.

But what if we made an effort to get the most out of the “good” experiences in our life, as well as all the “bad” ones? Wouldn’t that be a surefire way of maximizing your happiness, growth, strength, and wisdom? And make you an all-over better person?

It's not about the cards you're dealt, but how you play the hand.

Randy Pausch

But what would that take?

Nothing more than a simple shift in attitude.

Simply a commitment to actively seek out, accept and focus on the positives in every single experience. Until it becomes a habit. And your normal mindset.

I watched an awesome podcast recently by a former US Navy SEAL named Jocko Willink, in which he talked about this very topic. And conveniently, he made a brief video presentation summarizing the lesson.